Family Profiles

Their love story turned tragic when her husband was murdered just two weeks after the wedding. Then two days after the funeral, Tabitha found out she was pregnant.

​“I was miserable,” she recalls. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I wouldn’t go outside for a while because I was so hurt and panicky. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep, and I was angry. I didn’t know how I could go through a pregnancy with my husband dead. It was overwhelming.”

Leaning on her Christian faith, Tabitha decided to move forward with the pregnancy.

A friend referred her to DRU Mondawmin Healthy Families (DRUM), but she rejected the services, thinking she did not need it because she had a stable job as a pharmacy technician.

“But Ms. Veronica (a DRUM family support worker), came to my house, and told me about the program. After that, she stayed with me throughout the entire pregnancy. She came to doctors’ appointments, she came with me to the hospital, she visited me after hours. She has got to be one of the most amazing people I know because she didn’t have to do all of that.”​Tabitha gave birth to a healthy boy. Jawan is now five years old and graduates from pre-kindergarten in June.

“It’s like I still have a piece of my husband,” Tabitha says. “My son looks just like him. He is so intelligent. And I believe it was a sign from God because I lost my husband on July 13, and Jawan was born eight months later, on March 17.”

She says Ms. Veronica was instrumental in helping her overcome her grief, prepare for Jawan’s birth, console her older children, and even set future goals.

“She helped me redo my resume, apply for jobs, and even helped me overcome an abusive relationship when I was just looking for love after this tragedy. I’ve come a long way.”​Tabitha has a message to families struggling to raise their children amid pain:“Just don’t give up. This is not all God has planned for you, and it’s all worth it for your children.”